There are certain trends that have such commercial, mass appeal, you will see them dominate every new-in section, and this autumn there is one colour which buyers and designers clearly see huge potential in: khaki. Instead of being used for functional, utilitarian looks, this colour is being positioned in a more elevated way than cargos, with rich, earthy shades of olive and moss greens realised in cashmere, silks and tailored separates. This is a colour for those who dream of shopping exclusively at The Row and personally identify with the “quiet luxury” movement – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jennifer Lawrence will no doubt emerge cloaked in a full khaki look any day now.
Read more: The Key Autumn/Winter 2024 Trends To Know Now
The key is to wear it head-to-toe, layering minimalist separates in this deep shade of green, as was seen at Burberry, Ferragamo, Gucci and Bottega Veneta. Gucci has gone all-in for green, with lingerie-inspired slips, patent boots and tailored coats in mossy shades, with tonal looks spliced with acidic lime handbags. In Nicole Phelps’s review of the autumn/winter 2024 show she notes that Sabato De Sarno’s studio team translated this specific shade of green as “rotten.” Other runway highlights include the boxy wool peacoat at Ferragamo, the sheer midi at Saint Laurent and the oversized cape at Chloé.
This colour was seen across the collections in all four fashion capitals and in Pantone’s colour trend report following London Fashion Week, it highlighted “Iguana” as a leading hue, describing it as a “versatile arboreal green that underscores our appreciation of nature.” Although a sludgy, pond-water colour might not sound like it would be hugely popular, this earthy palette actually looks super elevated when paired with stylish silhouettes and luxurious fabrics. The high street clearly believes in the commercial potential of this souped-up khaki, as it is the dominant shade in the autumn collections at Arket, COS, Me + Em and more. Top of our shopping list? A wool scarf jumper from Arket, Free People’s barrel leg jeans and a Loewe bag – which will look best when styled all together. Functioning as an elevated neutral, this could even tempt those who wear exclusively black.
